WNBA Proposal Sees Guaranteed $1M Base Salary and $5M Cap

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has escalated its collective bargaining efforts, putting forward a proposal that includes a guaranteed USD1 million (AUD1.5 million) base maximum salary starting in the 2026 season.

This landmark figure, which projects total compensation for max players to exceed USD1.2 million (AUD1.8 million) with revenue sharing, underpins a massive financial restructuring aimed at capitalising on the league’s exponential commercial growth.

The proposed increases demonstrate the league’s strategic intent to retain global talent and secure its value proposition against emerging competitor leagues.

The entire salary structure would undergo a radical overhaul, with the average player salary projected to soar past USD500,000 (AUD762,000) in 2026, up from approximately USD102,249 (AUD155,991) under the current agreement.

Furthermore, the minimum player salary is projected to exceed USD225,000 (AUD343,192), a dramatic increase from the 2025 minimum of USD66,079 (AUD100,810).

Crucially, the proposal addresses the WNBPA’s key strategic demand regarding future financial alignment. The league’s salary cap would increase instantly to USD5 million (AUD7.6 million) in 2026, a monumental leap from the 2025 cap of USD1.5 million (AUD2.28 million), and would subsequently be set in each following year based directly on revenue growth.

This willingness to invest heavily in player compensation comes amid an unprecedented period of growth, including new media rights deals and rapid increases in attendance and merchandise sales.

The guaranteed seven-figure base salary and the direct link between the cap and revenue are a necessary commercial outlay to maintain the league’s trajectory and ward off external pressure from rival leagues offering lucrative off-season contracts.

While the figures reflect incremental increases from previous offers and demonstrate a willingness to compromise on the structure, an agreement is not yet imminent. Both sides recently agreed to extend the current Collective Bargaining Agreement through to January 9, 2026. This short extension provides a narrow window for the parties to finalise a revolutionary deal that will shape the WNBA’s competitive and commercial landscape for the next decade.

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